-
Essay / Confidentiality of medical information - 1553
The law does not allow healthcare professionals to disclose patients' medical information. It is a patient's right to have their personally identifiable information confidential. This medical information is intended to be available only to the licensed physician and other necessary health care and insurance personnel. Patient confidentiality had been protected by federal law since 2003. The adoption of federal regulation, namely the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, was facilitated by the requirement for privacy as well as by the protection of personal records and data in an electronic medical record. the environment and third-party insurance payers. The meaning of patient confidentiality is that personal and medical information provided to healthcare providers cannot be disclosed to third parties unless the patient has given authorization for the disclosure. In fact, permission is not supposed to be granted to medical professionals to disclose patient medical information. Indeed, disclosing patients' medical information could lead to professional or personal problems because patients depend on doctors' ability to keep their medical information confidential, American Psychological Association (2003). Normally, it becomes difficult for medical records to be completely sealed. . The biggest factor affecting confidentiality is when clinicians turn to sharing medical information in the form of case studies. In all cases, this data is published in professional journals, the identity of the patient is then never disclosed and all data that identifies the patient is either eliminated or modified. However, if confidentiality is breached, the patient may have the right to take legal action, British Medical Association (2008). Another greater threat to medical privacy exists since many medical bills are paid by specific health insurance, which may be private or public, Radford, Roger, (2002). In this case, it becomes very difficult to keep medical information confidential. Health records are occasionally accessed, not only by physicians and their staff, but also by medical laboratories, insurance company employees, researchers, public health insurance, and many others. In all cases, an employer provides health insurance; Employee records can then be viewed by the employer and designated employees. The requirement of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 is that all organizations and professionals must protect the privacy of their customers and patients, Carter P..